Pension Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]

Accounting For The Pension Plans

The following table presents the actuarial assumptions used in accounting for the pension plans:

	2018		2017		2016
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at September 30 measurement date:
Discount rate	1.9	%	1.8	%	1.3	%
Rate of increase in future compensation	3.0	%	2.8	%	2.8	%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost for fiscal years ended September 30:
Discount rate	1.8	%	1.3	%	2.2	%
Rate of increase in future compensation	2.8	%	2.8	%	3.0	%
Rate of return on plan assets	5.4	%	5.4	%	5.7	%

Components Of Net Periodic Pension Cost

The actuarially computed components of net periodic pension cost recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for each year are shown below: 

	Year ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Interest cost of projected benefit obligation	$	1,260		$	815		$	1,374
Service cost	1,535			1,696			1,599
Expected return on plan assets	(4,180		)	(3,327		)	(3,305		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(5		)	(5		)	(5		)
Recognized actuarial loss	2,293			3,385			2,292
Settlement loss	9			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	912		$	2,564		$	1,955

Change In Benefit Obligation And Plan Assets

The following tables display the change in benefit obligation and the change in the plan assets and funded status of the plans as well as the amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

	Year ended September 30,
	2018			2017
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation—beginning of year	$	87,168		$	92,695
Service cost	1,535			1,696
Interest cost	1,260			815
Actuarial loss (gain)	2,157			(8,496		)
Foreign exchange impact	(1,669		)	2,379
Participant contributions	212			183
Benefits paid	(1,637		)	(2,104		)
Settlements	(1,162		)	—
Projected benefit obligation—end of year	$	87,864		$	87,168
Change in plan assets and funded status:
Plan assets at fair value—beginning of year	$	70,494		$	61,935
Actual return on plan assets	1,025			6,261
Employer contributions	2,459			2,036
Participant contributions	212			183
Foreign exchange impact	(1,250		)	2,183
Settlements	(1,162		)	—
Benefits paid	(1,637		)	(2,104		)
Plan assets at fair value—end of year	70,141			70,494
Projected benefit obligation—end of year	87,864			87,168
Underfunded status	$	(17,723	)	$	(16,674	)
Accumulated benefit obligation—end of year	$	85,103		$	84,298
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet:
Non-current liability	$	(17,502	)	$	(16,674	)
Current liability	$	(221	)	$	—
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Unrecognized actuarial loss	$	27,027		$	24,738

Schedule of Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year

The following table shows change in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

	Year ended September 30,
	2018			2017
	(in thousands)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss- beginning of year	$	24,738		$	38,667
Recognized during year - net actuarial (losses)	(2,288		)	(3,380		)
Occurring during year - settlement loss	(9		)	—
Occurring during year - net actuarial losses (gains)	5,312			(11,430		)
Foreign exchange impact	(726		)	881
Accumulated other comprehensive loss- end of year	$	27,027		$	24,738

Percentage Of Total Plan Assets

The following table shows the percentage of total plan assets for each major category of plan assets:

	September 30,
	2018		2017
Asset category:
Equity securities	35	%	23	%
Fixed income securities	46	%	57	%
Commodities	1	%	6	%
Insurance company funds	12	%	12	%
Cash	6	%	2	%
	100	%	100	%

Expected Future Benefit Payments

As of September 30, 2018, benefit payments expected to be paid over the next ten years are outlined in the following table:

	Future Benefit Payments
	(in thousands)
Year ending September 30,
2019	$	2,721
2020	2,989
2021	3,265
2022	3,871
2023	3,873
2024 to 2028	23,493

Fair Value Of Plan Assets

	September 30, 2018
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in thousands)
Plan assets:
Fixed income securities:
Government	$	29,754	$	—	$	—	$	29,754
European corporate investment grade	2,499		—		—		2,499
European large capitalization stocks	24,502		—		—		24,502
Commodities	724		—		—		724
Insurance company funds (1)	—		8,413		—		8,413
Cash	4,249		—		—		4,249
	$	61,728	$	8,413	$	—	$	70,141

	September 30, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in thousands)
Plan assets:
Fixed income securities:
Government	$	29,445	$	—	$	—	$	29,445
European corporate investment grade	10,675		—		—		10,675
European large capitalization stocks	16,164		—		—		16,164
Commodities	3,966		—		—		3,966
Insurance company funds (1)	—		8,714		—		8,714
Cash	1,530		—		—		1,530
	$	61,780	$	8,714	$	—	$	70,494

 (1) These investments are comprised primarily of funds invested with an insurance company in Japan with a guaranteed rate of return. The insurance company invests these assets primarily in government and corporate bonds.